Improvement in flood-fences



nsfelLcRsTz;

Vimprovem'nt in Flood-Fences;

Patented Feb. 20, 1872..

Juuuu I vento'r UNITED 'rA'rEs ROBERT S. GILCBEST, OF DE GRAFF, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLOOD-FENCES.

. To all 'whom it may concern:

Be. it known that I, ROBERT S. GILoREsT, of De Graff, inthe county of Logan and in the State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGombined Flood-Gate and Fence; and do hereby declare that the following is afull,elear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon making a part of this specitlcation.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a self-operating wiresuspension flood-gate and fence, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, in which- Figure l is a side view of my loodgate and fence. Fig. 2 is a View of the opposite side ofthe same; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a stringboard used to hold the lower ends of the pal ings in low or ordinary stages of water, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the lower end of one of the posts.

A A and B B represent posts iirmly planted on either side ot' the stream the required distance for gate and fence, the gate requiring the two long postsAA, as shown. Through the posts A A and B B, above high-water mark, passes a horizontal oord of compound or sin gle wire, a. To this cord the palings O O are attached by means of cleats b b, which form the hinges and space the paling-s, each paling iloating free on the surface of the water in time of danger. The lower ends of the palings are securely fastened in low or ordinary stages of water by string-boards D D, which receive the ends of the paliu gs, and are laid in notches or rests d d formed on the posts. Between the high posts A A may be planted one or more short posts, A', if the distance is too great to form rests for the string-boards between said high posts. The string-boards D Dl are attached by chains e c to the posts so that they cannot iioat away. Then the water rises so as to tloat the string-boards away from their rests or fastenings, they slip oil' the palings and leave the palin gs free. After the water falls the string-boards are to be replaced by hand. Through the top of the long pests passes the suspension cord jf, dipping down between them. To this the horizont-al cord a. is fastened, as shown. Guy-ropes are to be used in long spans.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I cla-im as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination with a flood-gate, com posed of a series of palings hung and swinging independently of each other upon a horizontal wire, I claim the string-boards D D, to hold and secure the paliugs so as to form a fence, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The combination ofthe posts A B, wires af, palings C O, cleats b Z), string-boards D D, rests d d, and chains c c, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of October, 1871.

ROBT. S. GILCREST.

Witnesses:

EPEE/tin B. REEVES, DAN. S. SPELLMAN. 

